Radiator cap



' w. NELSON Oct. 25, 1932.

RADIATOR CAP Filed June 1, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l VENTOR A O NEY Oct. 25, 1932. w, NELSQN 1,884,132

RADIATOR CAP Filed June 1, 1928 2 Sheet-Sheet 2 Z M l ENTOR Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM NELSON, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, ASSIGNOB T0 BURNETT WALKER,

. OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

RADIATOR car Application filed June 1, 1928.

My invention consists in a radiator filling fitting, usually combined with an emblem.

The general object is to provide means for conveniently filling or refilling such tanks as automobile radiators, which does not include any neckor cap upwardly-projecting from the top of the radiator, and thus avoids disadvantages of such commonly-used filling fittings, while providing distinct advantages in structure and function.

- The ordinary filling tube or neck, projecting substantially above the top of the radiator, 'interfers appreciably with the road vision of the driver, and in filling the radiator or when the latter boils over, the spillage practically always flows over the top of the radiator shell and the engine hood, soils them and frequently injures their finish. The filling tube or cap is also inharmonious with the symmetrical contour of the radiatorshell-top.

To overcome these disadvantages or objectionable features, I provide a fitting including a movable, telescoping spout or filling trough, inserted in an opening in the front of the radiator shell (at the centeror near one side of the upper portion thereof) and also communicating with the upper water tank; this does away with any projection at the top of. the shell, and facilitates filling by reason of its lower location. Spillage is also caused to fall in front of the radiator, and does not flow over the top of the shell or hood. The front of the telescoping trough is arranged to close the shell opening, and also preferably serves as an emblem, or emblemsuppor't, thus dispensing with any other or separate emblem or emblem-plate, suchas is ordinarly provided.

The characteristics "and advantages of the the invention are further sufiiciently explained in connection with the following detaildescription of the accompanying drawings, which shows one preferred embodiment.

, After considering this example, skilled persons will understand that, many variations may be made, and I contemplate the employment of any structures that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. l is .a front-perspective view of the Serial No. 282,225.

upper part of a motor-vehicle radiator and hood, with the invention included in one form.

Fig. 2 is a partial front elevation, enlarged.

Fig. 3 is a section at 33, Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a similar section, showing a different operative position.

Fig.5 is a section at 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section at 6-6, Fig. 4.

The upper part of the shell 1 encloses the upper tank 2, at the top of the, usual honeycomb or other. type of radiator core, 3.

The front wall of the tank has an opening 4: in which is inserted a tube 5 having an outer flange 6, secured to the tank wall as by screws 7, usually with an interposed gasket 8. The front end of the tube is preferably formed with a relatively thin annular rib 9. At the rear end of the tube an inwardly projecting flange 10 may be provided, in some cases.

A filling trough 11 is arranged to telescope in tube 5, and the front of the shell 1 is cut out as at 12 to accommodate the trough. The upper, forward portion of the trough is cut away as at 13 to provide the filling opening proper. At the front end of the trough is a wall 14 to which, preferably, a plate 15 is connected, and this connection is also preferably detachable, as by a screw 16. Plate 15 desirably constitutes an emblem which may be in the shape of an ornamental figure or may be merely an embossed or otherwise-applied trade-mark legent or design, such as 17, Figs. 1 and 2. The filler trough and especially its front wall 14 thus serves as an emblem support, and the detachable connection of the emblem provides for easily securing any desired emblem or emblem plate, as for cars of different manufacture. In this particular example the emblem plate also constitutes in effect a knobor handle for manipulation of the filling trough, and for this purpose its periphery is undercut or beveled as at 18 to afford a convenient finger grip. A gasket 19 is desirably placed against the innerface of plate 15, surrounding the front wallll, and may be secured in position by tight fit, or by cement. The inner end of the trough has an outturned flange 20, and a helical spring 21 is placed between the troughand tube 5, and

also between flange 20 and a shoulder 22 adj acent the front end of the tube. This spring normally returns the trough to closed or inward position as shown in Fig. 3, with gasket 19 engaging the rib 9 at the front end of the tube and with the beveled edge 18 of plate 15 engaging in and closing the shell aperture 12. The inner end of the trough may also be adjacent, or rest against, flange 10 of the tube, or this flange may in most cases be dispensed with. To conveniently retain the trough in its outward or filling position, a top portion of flange 20 may be cut away as at 25, Fig. 6, leaving a lug or stud 26 which may be engaged with a hole or socket 27 in tube 5 by a slight downward tilting of the front end of the trough, which for this purpose has a slightly-loose fit in the tube.

With the trough in open position as shown in Fig. 4:, the nozzle of a filling hose may be inserted in the opening 13, or water may be poured therein from a bucket or other receptacle. The water level mayeasily be observed through the opening to avoid overfilling in most cases, but any spillage will run down in front of the radiator where it is least objectionable, and there is no opportunity for overflow to run on the top of the shell or hood. The location of the filling opening is also substantially lower than in common practice, so that filling is more easily effected.

It is desirable in some cases, as shown, to arrange the tube and trough at an inclination to the horizontal, that is, to incline it in wardly-downwardly as shown, and for this purpose flanges 6 and 14 are arranged at an angle in relation to the tube and trough respectively; but the fitting may otherwise be placed horizontally, and in that case the flanges will be perpendicular to the tube and trough axes. The tube and trough may be of circular cross section as shown; otherwise they may be polygonal in cross section. When polygonal, the trough is prevented by that arrangement from rotating in relation to the tube. When the major parts are of circular section as shown, it is not necessary in all cases to prevent rotation of the trough in the tube, but, if desirable, such rotation may be prevented as by any suitable spline-connection of these parts.

t is usually desirable to insert the fitting in the position shown, that is, at the center of the upper part of the front walls of the shell and tank. But, for example, if that part of the shell is of markedly bulged or con veX form, the fitting may be inserted toward one side of the upper portion of the shell, where such excessive bulging or curvature is not encountered.

I claim:

1. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, the

fitting being arranged to slope inward and downward into the tank top, and including a withdrawable trough portion having a top opening.

2. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, the fitting being arranged to slope inward and downward into the tank top, and including a with drawable trough portion having a top opening, the shell having an aperture to accommodate the trough, and the trough having a front portion arranged to close the aperture.

3. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and including a tube secured in the front tank wall and a filling trough telescopingly mounted in the tube, the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture.

4. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and including a tube secured in the front tank wall and a filling trough telescopingly mounted in the tube, the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture, and a spring intermediate the trough and tube serving to urge the trough to inward, closed position.

5. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and includin g a tube secured in the front tank Wall and a filling trough telescopingly mounted in the tube, the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture, and a spring intermediate the trough and tube serving to urge the trough to inward, closed position, and means acting between the trough and tube to retain the trough in outward, filling position.

6. I11 combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, the fitting being arranged to slope inward and downward into the tank top, and including a withdrawable trough portion having a top opening, a gasket to seal the trough to the tank when the trough is in closed position, and spring means operable to move the trough longitudinally and place sealing pressure on said gasket.

7. A filling fitting for a motor vehicle radiator tank and shell structure substantially as shown, said fitting being adapted to be located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and including a tube secured in the front tank wall and a filling trough telescopingly mounted in the tube, the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture.

8. A filling fitting for a motor vehicle ra diator tank and shell structure substantially as shown, said fitting being adapted to be located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and including a tube secured in the front tank wall and a filling trough telescopingly mounted in the tube,

the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture, and a spring intermediate the trough and tube serving to urge the trough to inward, close position.

9. A filling fitting for a motor vehicle radiator tank and shell structure substantially as shown, said fitting being adapted to be located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, and including a tube secured in the front tank wall and a filling trough telesoopingly mounted in the tube, the shell wall being apertured to accommodate the trough, and the outward end of the trough being arranged to close the shell aperture, and a spring intermediate the trough and tube serving to urge the trough to inward, closed position, and means acting between the trough and tube to retain the trough in inward, filling position.

10. In combination with a tank and shell structure substantially as shown, a filling fitting located in front wall portions of the shell and tank and below the shell top, the fitting being arranged to slope inward and downward into the tank top, and including a withdrawable trough portion having a top opening, the shell having an aperture to accommodate the trough, said trough having a front portion arranged to simultaneously close the shell aperture and seal the tank opening by longitudinal movement of the trough toward the tank, and spring means operable to close and maintain said trough in normal closed condition.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WILLIAM NELSON. 

